Buffalo Bills News - November 27, 2000

Sapped & Zapped [6:09 AM]Tampa Tribune reports:
'After all, the Bucs' offense, which does have issues to address, gained a season-low 180 yards. But in grinding out a 31-17 victory, the offense undeniably was opportunistic.'

Offense finally awakened [6:08 AM]Tampa Tribune reports:
'One, the Bucs can, indeed, move the ball 70 yards for a touchdown. And two, it sure helps when the opposing defense loses three of its best players.'

Sapp's comments cause desired effect [6:07 AM]Tampa Tribune reports:
'Boys will be boys and apparently Warren Sapp will be Warren Sapp. That was the general player response to the comments Sapp made during the weekend.'

Sapp ignites Bucs' fire, gets a spark [6:06 AM]Tampa Tribune reports:
'"Because it needed to be said." That's why the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the one credible Buc who would dare publicly blast his team's shabby offense, did so Friday.'

Desperate times create desperate acts for Bucs [6:03 AM]Tampa Tribune reports:
'He jumped up and took off after Bryson. He probably ran 30 yards to chase down Bryson, just as Bryson was stepping out of bounds to complete a 17-yard gain.'

Steckel is unfazed by Sapp's comments [6:00 AM]Tampa Tribune reports:
'If Bucs offensive coordinator Les Steckel is smarting from the round of shots that defensive tackle Warren Sapp took at him and his offense this weekend, he's not letting it show.'

Injuries on defense doomed the Bills' chances [6:00 AM]Tampa Tribune reports:
'Then, a crack developed in Buffalo's mortar. Outside linebacker Sam Rogers limped off the field with a torn groin muscle. Inside linebacker Sam Cowart, the league's leading tackler, left with a high ankle sprain. So did free safety Keion Carpenter.'

Game review [5:59 AM]Tampa Tribune reports:
'RB Warrick Dunn's 106 yards marked the first 100-yard rushing game the Bills have allowed since January. Tennessee's Eddie George rushed for 106 yards on Jan. 8 in the AFC wild-card playoff game.'

Sapp speaks; offense listens [5:54 AM]St. Petersburg Times reports:
'After a 31-17 win over the Bills, the locker room resonated with some understanding why Sapp was critical of the offense but also offered support for Steckel.'

Dunn has no problem filling Alstott's role [5:53 AM]St. Petersburg Times reports:
'With Tampa Bay leading the Bills 24-17 and the two-minute warning approaching, the Bucs called on Dunn to secure a few first downs. On second and 10, he cut back off left tackle and ran 39 yards for the win-sealing touchdown.'

Williams' return for TD breaks Bills' back [5:50 AM]St. Petersburg Times reports:
'Buffalo's Chris Mohr hit a towering, 57-yard punt to Karl Williams, who backpedaled and caught the ball on his 27-yard line -- and the game suddenly took a dramatic turn.'

Quick hits [5:49 AM]St. Petersburg Times reports:
'Johnson's second-quarter touchdown pass was the first TD yielded by the Bucs defense in 10 quarters.'

Fire and ice [5:48 AM]St. Petersburg Times reports:
'The Bucs allowed a season-high seven sacks and Jeff Christy, right, and Dave Moore were flagged for holding. Not exactly a banner day for offensive line coach Chris Foerster's group, a unit that allowed 18 sacks before Sunday.'

Game balls [5:47 AM]St. Petersburg Times reports:
'Bucs DT Warren Sapp - For all of his talk, don't make the mistake of measuring Warren Sapp by his words. Measure him by his deeds.'

Bucs quotebook [5:46 AM]St. Petersburg Times reports:
'[Tony Dungy:] "That was a very tough win, but a great win for us. Buffalo plays with a lot of heart and soul, and any time you can beat them it's a big win."'

Buccaneers notebook [5:41 AM]Orlando Sentinel reports:
'"Our defense dominated the first half," Bills Coach Wade Phillips said Sunday after Tampa Bay`s 31-17 victory at Raymond James Stadium. "We were controlling the game until those injuries hit us. Those injuries killed us. Those were our best three players."'

Bucs keep playoff hopes alive with win [5:40 AM]Fort Myers News Press reports:
'On Sunday, the Bucs did what they needed to do against the Buffalo Bills. They didn&#8217;t turn the ball over once. They sacked Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson six times.'

Bucs' Dunn rushes for 106 yards [5:35 AM]Fort Myers News Press reports:
'"We knew it would be tough sledding in there but they lost a couple of players throughout the course of the game. That helped us a little bit."'